Markus moved like a shadow, his form erased under Silent Phantom. The Goblin Den stretched before him, an intricate network of tunnels littered with crude weapons and remnants of past fights.
But Markus wasn't here to clear the dungeon.
He was here to push his abilities beyond their limits.
Markus had been studying the creatures carefully. Every movement, every pattern.
Goblin Variants (E-Rank Dungeon)
Goblin Scouts – Small, fast, and cowardly. Used crude daggers and slings for ambush tactics.
Goblin Fighters – Larger, using rusted swords and clubs. Aggressive but untrained.
Goblin Shamans – Rare, capable of casting Fireball
Goblin Chief (Boss) – Stronger, larger, more intelligent. Wielded a bone greatsword.
"The only thing worth copying is Fireball."
Markus targeted a Goblin Scout lurking near the cavern's entrance.
Ice Bolt.
The thought alone triggered the spell instantly. A jagged shard of ice materialized and shot forward, striking the goblin in the chest and freezing it in place.
Before it could react, Markus dragged it into a secluded corner.
Then, he began testing.
Ice Bolt → Heal → Ice Bolt → Heal.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each time, the goblin suffered frostbite, then regeneration, then frostbite again.
It screeched in agony, until it didn't.
System Notification – EXP Gained
[+25 EXP Gained.]
Markus smirked.
"That worked well. Time for more."
He vanished from sight, his body dissolving into Silent Phantom.
After hours of combat repetition, Markus felt a shift. A familiar blue screen appeared. He continued until all 5 of his skills reached level 10.
[Ice Bolt has reached Level 10. Evolution Available.]
[Heal has reached Level 10. Evolution Available.]
[Mana Manipulation has reached Level 10. Evolution Available.]
[Shadow Step has reached Level 10. Evolution Available.]
[Enhanced Agility has reached Level 10. Evolution Available.]
Markus selected "YES" for all of them.
[Evolved Abilities]
Frost Lance (Ice Bolt Evolution) – Level 1
Description: A sharpened spear of ice that pierces through multiple enemies.
Effective Range: 25 meters (Previously 15 meters)
Cooldown: 4 seconds
Mana Cost: 20 MP per cast
Effects: Piercing effect (Can pass through one additional target), higher freeze chance.
Markus summoned the new spell.
A meter-long lance of pure ice manifested in front of him. The moment he willed it forward, it impaled two goblins standing in a row, freezing both in place.
"Perfect."
Greater Heal (Heal Evolution) – Level 1
Description: A stronger, faster healing spell.
Effective Range: 5 meters (Previously touch-based)
Cooldown: 3 seconds
Mana Cost: 50 MP per use
Effects: Restores greater amounts of HP, can now be used at range.
Markus tested it on himself, directing the green aura toward his hand. The pain from minor muscle strain vanished instantly.
"Healing at range is a massive advantage."
Arcane Flow (Mana Manipulation Evolution) – Level 1
Description: Enhances all mana-related abilities, reducing spell costs and increasing efficiency.
Cooldown: None (Passive Skill)
Mana Cost: None (Passive Skill)Effects: Reduces all spell mana costs by 30%, increases spellcasting speed by 20%.
Markus felt his spells respond faster, the mana expenditure noticeably lighter.
"This will save thousands of MP in the long run."
Rift Step (Shadow Step Evolution) – Level 1
Description: An advanced version of Shadow Step, allowing Markus to step into spatial distortions and reappear elsewhere instantly.
Effective Range: 15 meters (Previously 10 meters)
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Mana Cost: 80 MP per use
Effects: Can phase through thin barriers, ignores most non-magical obstacles.
Markus willed himself forward, and in an instant, he was gone.
He reappeared behind a goblin, completely silent and undetected.
"Teleportation without needing shadows… this is a true step forward."
Phantom Acceleration (Enhanced Agility Evolution) – Level 1
Description: Temporarily boosts speed and reflexes to unnatural levels.
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: None
Mana Cost: 50 MP per activation
Effects: Doubles Agility for the duration. Movement appears blurred, harder to track.
Markus activated it.
The world slowed, his vision sharpened, and his movement became near-instantaneous.
He darted forward, closing the distance between him and a goblin before it could react.
"I'm going to break the limits of speed at this rate."
Fireball – The Only Worthy Copy
Markus finally encountered a Goblin Shaman.
The small, hunched creature was muttering primitive chants, conjuring a small flaming sphere in its palm.
Fireball.
A simple but effective magical attack.
Markus activated Card Copy.
[Select up to three cards to copy.]
[Fireball – Level 3] (A basic fire spell that launches a small, explosive orb of flames.)
[Lesser Healing – Level 2] (Weak healing magic. Inferior to Greater Heal.)
[Ritual Chanting – Level 2] (Increases casting speed for group magic.)
Markus chose Fireball.
The instant it integrated, his mind adjusted to the spell's mechanics.
Fire gathered at his fingertips, condensing into a crackling sphere.
With a thought, he launched it.
The fireball struck the goblin, exploding in a small burst of flames, the creature screamed and collapsed, burning to death.
"Basic, but useful. I'll evolve this later."
After hours of grinding, Markus moved on to collecting resources.
Mana Cores:
60% drop rate, out of 50 goblins, 30 had them. The Goblin Chief (Boss) would have a guaranteed core.
Mana Crystals:
Found embedded in the cavern walls. Markus used goblin weapons to chip them free.
"These will sell well."
Markus stood in the center of the Goblin Den, surrounded by corpses and scattered weapons. His mana pulsed through him, raw power flowing through his veins.
The dungeon was almost clear, but his training wasn't over yet.
Collecting the Loot – Mana Cores & Crystals
He moved efficiently, working through the goblin corpses, extracting mana cores from their chests. The bluish orbs pulsed faintly, each one a source of pure magical energy.
30 out of 50 goblins had them.
Markus stored them inside his inventory, his mind already calculating how much they'd sell for.
Afterward, he approached the mana crystals lodged in the cavern walls. Using a goblin's rusted sword, he chipped away at the glowing stones until they were loose enough to collect.
"This should cover my expenses for a while."
Satisfied, Markus turned his attention to Fireball.
Unlike his other spells, Fireball had a fatal weakness.
It was too obvious. Too loud. Too flashy.
If he used it outside, even once, the Hunter Association would pick up on it.
Which meant… he had to master it here.
Markus began casting nonstop.
A sphere of condensed flame manifested in his palm, heat licking at his fingertips.
With a thought, he launched it forward.
The Fireball struck the cavern wall, exploding into a burst of embers and molten rock.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Fireball → Fireball → Fireball.
The cave rumbled with heat and flames, goblin corpses charred beyond recognition as Markus emptied his mana pool repeatedly, waiting for it to regenerate before resuming.
Pushing the Speed Buff – Phantom Acceleration
To increase his endurance, Markus kept Phantom Acceleration active at all times.
His Agility doubled, the world around him felt slower, his body responding like a machine.
The strain was immense, keeping a speed buff active for extended periods drained mana quickly, but he needed to adapt.
Faster reflexes. Faster responses. Absolute control over his movement.
For hours, he cycled between Fireball training and speed conditioning, ignoring the burning ache in his muscles.
Finally, the system prompt appeared.
Fireball Evolution Unlocked
[Fireball has reached Level 10. Would you like to evolve this ability?]
[Yes] [No]
Markus chose YES without hesitation.
A new warmth surged through his core, the spell's properties rewriting themselves.
[Blazing Orb (Fireball Evolution) – Level 1]
Description: A concentrated sphere of explosive fire, capable of dealing area damage upon impact.
Effective Range: 20 meters (Previously 15 meters)
Cooldown: 4 seconds (Increased for power boost)
Mana Cost: 35 MP per cast (Slightly higher than Fireball)
Effects: Greater explosion radius, enhanced heat intensity, impact causes knockback.
Markus held up his hand, the Fireball was different now.
Denser. Brighter. The heat radiated outward, the flames licking hungrily at the air.
He aimed at a cluster of goblin corpses and unleashed it.
The explosion ripped through the cavern, molten rock scattering in all directions. The sheer force cracked the nearby walls.
"Now this is a real attack."
Markus turned his attention to the final chamber.
The Goblin Chief sat waiting, its massive bone sword resting on its lap. The red glint in its eyes suggested it knew it was next.
It roared.
A war cry echoed through the cavern, triggering its passive buff.
Markus didn't give it a chance to react.
Skill Grinding Against the Boss
The Goblin Chief charged, its bone sword raised, but Markus was already gone, Rift Step activated, teleporting him behind the boss instantly.
Frost Lance pierced its leg, freezing the muscles solid.
Phantom Acceleration kept him moving at blinding speed.
Explosion Sphere detonated against its chest, sending it crashing into the stone wall.
Greater Heal negated the minor damage Markus took from dodging the attacks.
He repeated the cycle.
Teleport. Strike. Cast. Dodge.
The Goblin Chief couldn't even react.
With one final Frost Lance to the skull, the boss collapsed.
System Notification – Boss Defeated
[+500 EXP Gained.]
[You have defeated the Goblin Chief.]
Markus let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders.
It was over.
He quickly looted the boss's mana core, stashed the remaining crystals, and turned his attention to the dungeon itself.
Gate Closure – Time to Leave
The walls shimmered faintly, the dungeon itself destabilizing.
Markus recalled the original gate rules.
Gates collapsed shortly after the boss's defeat.Hunters had minutes at best before being trapped inside.
"No reason to linger."
Markus activated Silent Phantom, his presence vanishing completely.
He left the dungeon unseen, slipping past the Hunter Association agent still waiting outside.
The moment he reached a dark alley, he deactivated stealth, appearing as if nothing had happened.
Stepping onto the street, a satisfied smirk played on his lips as he hailed a cab, contemplating the reactions of the team who had purchased the dungeon rights. The thought of their bewilderment upon discovering an empty, ground amused him. The agent from the Hunter Association would undoubtedly be perplexed, scrambling for explanations. The MC relished the irony, finding humor in their anticipated confusion.
Settling into the cab, he reflected on his progress, eager to analyze his updated status.
[Status]
Name: Markus Tenebris
Level: 3
Class: None (Upgradeable)
Titles: None
HP: 570/570 (END x 10)
MP: 760/760 (INT x 10, increased due to Arcane Flow.)
SP: 824/824 (AGI + END) x 8
EXP to next level: 250/1000
[Stats (After Skill Evolutions & Dungeon Clears)]
Strength: 37
Agility: 46
Endurance: 57
Intelligence: 76
Wisdom: 60
Luck: 21
Free Stat Points Available: 8
[Abilities & Skills]
Evolved Skills:
* [Blazing Orb – Level 1] (Evolved from Fireball.)
A condensed fire sphere that erupts into a wave of searing flames upon impact.
Range: 20 meters
Cooldown: 4 seconds
Mana Cost: 35 MP
Effects: Explosion Radius Increased (Wider area of effect, deals splash damage.)
Enhanced Heat Intensity (Higher burning damage over time.)
Impact Causes Knockback (Targets hit by the explosion are pushed backward.)
* [Frost Lance – Level 1] (Evolved from Ice Bolt.)A sharpened spear of ice that pierces through multiple enemies.
Range: 25 meters
Cooldown: 4 seconds
Mana Cost: 20 MP
Effects: Piercing Effect (Can pass through one additional target.)
Higher Freeze Chance (Increased likelihood of slowing or immobilizing enemies.)
* [Greater Heal – Level 1] (Evolved from Heal.)A more potent healing spell capable of closing deep wounds and stopping critical bleeding.
Range: 5 meters
Cooldown: 3 seconds
Mana Cost: 50 MP
Effects: Restores greater amounts of HP, now usable at range.
* [Arcane Flow – Level 1] (Evolved from Mana Manipulation.)Enhances the user's control over mana, reducing all spell costs and increasing efficiency.
Effects: Reduces spell mana cost by 30%.Increases spellcasting speed by 20%.
* [Rift Step – Level 1] (Evolved from Shadow Step.)Allows instant short-range teleportation through spatial distortions.
Range: 15 meters
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Mana Cost: 80 MP
Effects: Can phase through thin barriers. Ignores most non-magical obstacles.
* [Phantom Acceleration – Level 1] (Evolved from Enhanced Agility.)Temporarily boosts speed and reflexes beyond normal human limits.
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: None
Mana Cost: 50 MP
Effects: Doubles Agility for the duration. User's movement appears blurred, harder to track.
* [Silent Phantom – Level 1] (Evolved from Stealth.)Advanced stealth ability that erases sound and visual presence.
Mana Drain: 6 MP per second (Reduced from 10 MP.)
No cooldown; can be toggled on/off freely.
Effects: User moves without sound, eliminating footsteps and breathing noise. More difficult to detect even against mana-sensitive individuals.
[Inventory (38 Slots Available – Linked to INT: 76)]
Mana Cores: 31 (Collected from Goblins & Boss.)Mana Crystals: Multiple fist-sized chunks. Stored Cash, Gold, Bearer Bonds: Secured in Inventory. Twin Silenced Pistols: For emergencies. Encrypted Laptop & High-Security Hard Drives: For future use. Goblin Bone Dagger: Used for crystal extraction.
Markus leaned back in the cab, his turquoise eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
This was just the beginning.